Thermostatically-controlled radiator shutter for automobiles



June 1 1925. 1,585,534

C. A. PIPENHAGEN THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED RADIATOR SHUTTER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 24 1925 Patented June 1, 1926.

un s ares PATENT, OFFICE.

.2311; ArPIBEfiHAGElLf qrflcnroaoo, irnLmoxs; assronor. 'ro PINES WINTER- icnonrcnurnnziononrcnoo, ILLINOIS, 'A conrona'non or DELAWARE.

annnaosa' arrcannx;eonrnonnnn. nantafron snur'rnn non AUTOMOBILES.-

Ainp1ieation filed Bcto'ber 24, 1925. Serial No. 64,592;

' up of the engine so that the engine does not reach its. desired temperature, or this de-' ,sired temperature is not atta ned for an ob" jectionably long period of time. This con-.

dition generally results from a too rapid action of the thermostatic control. means.

One possible explanation for th sphenomenon is that, because of-its location ad ace nt the upper pa'rt of the radiator core or radiator structure, the thermostatic control means so is excessively influenced by the first flow of heated water from the cylinder 1ackets mto the top of the radiator and before the entire cooling system, lncluding the engine, has had time to heat up to the desired tem- 28 perature. Another possible reason is that the thermostatic control means 1s usually surrounded by the shell or casing of the unit, whereby its heat is reta ned and In consequence, its temperature rises rapldly. w The primary object of the present inven tion is to retard this objectionably. rapid action of the thermostatic control means.

The referred manner in which I accomplish tii the following detail descriptlon, which, it will be understood, is merely descriptwe of one of the many forms of structure wh ch may be used in the practice of my mvention to the accomplishment of the desired object. 4,0 Referring to the drawing accompanying this detailed description: v

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a radiator shutter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of .the line 22 of Fig. 1, and Y Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View showing the louver openings in the shell in section. A conventional automobile radiator is in- 5 dicated at 6, this radiator comprising a .on June 12, 1923.

openings in the shell and the core 9.

is retarding action is set forth in lower water compartment 7, an upper Water tank 8, and an intermediate cellular or tubular core 9 through which the water flows in the cooling operation. The thermostatically operated radiator shutter is designated 11 in its entirety. 'As illustrative of such a conventional shutter, I have shown one of the general type disclosed in prior Patent No. 1,458,593 issued to James F. Raleigh In this type of shutter, the Several shutter elements 12 are pivoted in a suitable frame 13 which is adapted for mounting in a separate fenestrated shell 14.

' This shell, with its supported shutter frame.

is mounted on the radiator 6, preferabl by extending long slender bolts 16 through In radiators of this type. the thermostatic control means is disposed in an outwardlv extending cup-shaped protuberance 18 formed in the upper part of the shell 14. This thermostatic control means is operatively asso ciated with the shutters 12 in such manner that the shutters are moved to open position when the temperature of the thermostatic control means rises above a pre-determined figure and are moved to closed position when the temperature of the thermostatic control means fallsvbelow a pre-detern'iined figure. The particular mechanism for effecting this control or operation of the shutters is not the subject matter of the present invention. a representative form thereof being fully disclosed in the above mentioned prior patent issued to James F. Raleigh. But, briefly stated, this control or operation is effected through an arrangement of cranks and links which utilize the expansion of the thermostatic control means to open the shutters 12 against the tension of a suitable spring.

In the exemplary construction shown, the thermostatic control means includes a series of waters 22, which are enclosed in a circular housing 23 carried in the upper cupshaped protuberance 18. These wafers usually contain ether, or some other gas or liquid which. is very responsive to temperature changes, and the expansion of these wafers is transmittedthrough the system of links and levers tothe shutter elements 12. One

form of thermostatic wafer construction is disclosed in Pipenhagen Patent No. 1,533,460, granted April 14:, 1925.

The back wall of the enclosing housing 23 bears against the core 9 of the radiator and the heat transfer to the thermostatic wafers 22 occurs through this back wall from that portion or strata of the radiator core which is in proximity to this back wall. It will be observed that this portion or strata of the core is out of the path of the air flow through the fenestrated shell, and hence is not subjected to the cooling influence of the air to the same extent as the lower portion of the core and its temperature rises more rapidly. It is to the retardation of the rise in temperature, heretofore experienced in this upper strata of the core and in the thermostatic control means that my present invention is particularly conceived.

To this end I have provided means for cooling that horizontal strata or portion of the core in proximity to the thermostatic wafers. This cooling function is preferably performed independently of the operation of the shutter elements 12, and is secured by forming one or more openings in the shell 14 in close proximity to the thermostatic control means. Preferably, there are provided two or more of these openings on each side of the thermostatic control means and in the same horizontal plane therewith so as to cool the upper level of the radiator core. These openings are preferably louver openings 25 having the downwardly rojecting louver surfaces 26 punched out 0 the sheet metal of the shell. By forming these openings 25 of louver form, the objectionable appearance of the radiator core through the shutter unit is avoided, and the relatively long narrow form of these openings is in harmony with the general design produced by the horizontally disposed shutter elements 12. These louver openings also defleet dust particles and dirt from the air currents entering therein and avoid accumulations of dust and dirt in the radiator core. The air flow through this part of the core, resulting from the provision of these openings, is adequate to retard the heating of th1s part of the core so that the,action of the thermostatic. control means will be delayed to the desired degree.

This general type of radiator shutter is usually constructed with a narrow head 28 extending around the margin of the shell 14-. Secured in this head is a strand of cushioning material 29 which is adapted to be pressed against the outer surface of the automobile radiator when the shutter unit is drawn up into engagement therewith through the bolts 16. This marginal cord or strand of cushioning material avoids marring the face of the radiator and avoids air leakage into the radiator core except that air which is admitted through the louver openings 26 and the shutter elements 12.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a radiator shutter adapted for mounting on automobile radiators, shutter mechanism for controlling the air flow through the radiator, thermostatic means for controlling said shutter mechanism, said thermostatic means being responsive to the temperature of the radiator core, and means for retarding the heating of said core in proximity to said thermostatic means.

2. In a shutter adapted for mounting on automobile radiators, shutter mechanism for controlling the air flow through the radiotor, thermostatic means for controlling said shutter mechanism, said thermostatic means bein responsive to the temperature of that portion of the radiator core in proximity thereto, and means effective independently of the position of said shutter mechanism for admitting a restricted air flow through said core in proximity to said thermostatic means.

' 3. In a radiator shutter adapted for mounting on automobile radiators, shutte' mechanism for controlling the air flow through the radiator, thermostatic means for controlling said shutter mechanism, said thermostatic means being responsive to the temperature of the radiator core, and means for retarding the rise of temperature of said thermostatic means.

4. In radiator shutter mechanism for automobile radiators, shutter means for controlling air flow through the radiator thermostatic means for controlling said shutter means, said thermostatic means being responsive to the temperature of the radiator, and means for retarding the rise of temperature of said thermostatic means.

5. In shutter mechanism for automobile radiators, the combination of shutter means for controlling the air flow through the radiator, thermostatic means for controlling said shutter means, said thermostatic means being responsive to the temperature of the radiator, and an air opening in said shutter mechanism associated with said thermostatic means for retarding the rise of temperature of the latter.

6. In shutter mechanism for automobile radiators, shutter means for controlling the air flow through the radiator, thermostatic means for controlling said, shutter means, and an air passage in said shutter mechanism for retarding the heating of said thermostatic means.

7. In shutter mechanism for automobile radiators, a plurality of shutters, a shell, thermostatic means supported by said shell for controlling said shutters, and louver openings in said shell in proximity to said thermostatic means.

8. Inshutter mechanism for automobile radiators, a shell, :1 frame having a plurality thermostatic means in said housing responsive to the temperature of the upper part of being connected to-actuate said shutters, and

v louver openings in said shell to either side of said housing to maintain a se arate flow of air through the upper part 0 said core.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of August, 1925.

CHARLES A. PIPENHAGEN. 

